Free trade will lift Kiwi incomes: National

National
today released a set of policies that reinforces the
Party’s commitment to openness with the world as the path
to lift New Zealanders’ incomes, in contrast with
opposition parties that want to isolate us from the rest of
the world.

“New Zealand’s economic prosperity
relies on selling our goods and services to the rest of the
world,” says National Party Leader John Key. “The fewer
barriers there are for our exporters, the better off New
Zealanders will be.”

“That is why as Prime
Minister I have been working hard on behalf of New
Zealanders to crack open more doors to free trade, alongside
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Trade Minister
Tim Groser.

“This includes pushing for a
high-quality free trade agreement under the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, which includes economic giants like the United
States and Japan.

“The choice for voters in this
area, like so many others, is stark.

“The Greens
want to end free trade and Labour, riven by caucus division,
is very confused about what it wants after previously being
in favour of free trade. The Dotcom party, of course, is
totally opposed to free trade.

“There can be no
doubt that this combination in government would damage the
cause of New Zealand’s exporters and damage New
Zealand’s economic prosperity.

“Raising barriers
to the rest of the world and halting the momentum of trade
agreements with key markets like the US, Japan and Korea,
would be disastrous,” says Mr Key.

“Our policy
to encourage free trade is one of the most important ways we
can become more prosperous.

“Trade agreements
allow New Zealand companies to access big international
markets as if they were part of New Zealand’s domestic
market. For a small country they are hugely
important.”

Mr Key made the comments at the
opening of the New Zealand Winegrowers conference in
Blenheim today as National released its Trade, Foreign
Affairs and Tourism policies.

“The wine industry
is a leading example of New Zealand companies thriving on
the world stage,” says Mr Key.

“The policies we
are releasing today show our commitment to remaining open to
trade with the world, having an independent foreign policy,
and encouraging and supporting our crucial tourism
industry.

“Should National have the privilege of
forming a government after the election, I would continue as
Minister of Tourism, working hard to promote New Zealand as
a tourism destination,” he says.

Mr Key also
announced along with Education Minister Hekia Parata that
the National Government has decided to create a $10 million
fund over five years to increase the provision of Asian
languages in schools.

“These policies together
demonstrate National is committed to seeing New Zealand
remaining open to the world, continuing to generate economic
prosperity through good relations with other countries, and
lowering barriers to
trade.”

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